Introduction to the First Edition. ix which they had displayed; and, though entertaining but slight faith in popular lecturing, he felt that a few words of encouragement, honestly and sincerely uttered, might not be without some good effect. And in this spirit he addressed them on more than one occasion, citing examples of what other men had done, as illustrations of what each might, in a greater or less degree, do for himself; and pointing out that their happiness and well-being as individuals in after life, must necessarily depend mainly upon themselves-upon their own diligent self-culture, selfdiscipline, and self-control-and, above all, on that honest and upright performance of individual duty, which is the glory of manly character. There was nothing in the slightest degree new or original in this counsel, which was as old as the Proverbs of Solomon, and possibly quite as familiar. But oldfashioned though the advice may have been, it was welcomed. The youths went forward in their course ; worked on with energy and resolution; and, reaching manhood, they went forth in various directions into the world, where many of them now occupy positions of trust and usefulness. Several years after the incidents referred to, the subject was unexpectedly recalled to the author's recollection by an evening visit from a young man-apparently fresh from the work of a foundry-who explained that he was now an employer of labour and a thriving man; and he was pleased to remember with gratitude the words spoken in all honesty to him and to his fellow-pupils years before, and even to attribute some measure of his success in life to the endeavours which he had made to work up to their spirit. X Introduction to the First Edition. The author's personal interest having in this way been attracted to the subject of Self-Help, he was accustomed to add to the memoranda from which he had addressed these young men ; and to note down occasionally in his leisure evening moments, after the hours of business, the results of such reading, observation, and experience of life, as he conceived to bear upon it. One of the most prominent illustrations cited in his earlier addresses, was that of George Stephenson, the engineer; and the original interest of the subject, as well as the special facilities and opportunities which the author possessed for illustrating Mr. Stephenson's life and career, induced him to prosecute it at his leisure, and eventually to publish his biography. The present volume is written in a similar spirit, as it has been similar in its origin. The illustrative sketches of character introduced, are, however, necessarily less elaborately treated-being busts rather than full-length portraits, and, in many of the cases, only some striking feature has been noted; the lives of individuals, as indeed of nations, often concentrating their lustre and interest in a few passages. Such as the book is, the author now leaves it in the hands of the reader; in the hope that the lessons of industry, perseverance, and self-culture, which it contains, will be found useful and instructive, as well as generally interesting. London, September, 1859. CONTENTS. Spirit of Self-Help - Institutions and men - - Pro- Government a reflex of the individualism of a nation - Cæsarism and Self-Help – William Dargan on Independence Patient labourers in all ranks Self-Help a feature in the English character - Power of example and of work in practical education - Value of bio- graphies — Great men belong to no exclusive class or rank — Illustrious men sprung from the ranks — Shakespeare — Various humble origin of many eminent men - Distinguished astrono- mers Eminent sons of clergymen foreigners of humble origin - Vanquelin, the chemist motions from the ranks in the French army Instances of persevering application and energy - Joseph Brotherton — W. J. Fox-W. S. Lindsay — William Jackson-Richard Cobden - Diligence indispensable to usefulness and distinction. - The wealthier ranks not all idlers-Examples - Military men Philosophers - Men of science Politicians - Literary men Wordsworth on self-reliance - De Tocqueville: his industry - - - - - - Page 1-26 Industry of the English people — Work the best educator — Hugh - Contents. - - - Applications of the steam-engine- The Cotton manufacture life-Barber, inventor and manufacturer - His influence and character- The Peels of South Lancashire - The founder of the family - The first Sir Robert Peel, cotton-printer - Lady Peel -Rev. William Lee, inventor of the stocking-frame Dies abroad in misery - James Lee - The Nottingham lace manu- facture John Heathcoat, inventor of the bobbin-net machine His early life, his ingenuity, and plodding perseverance - In- - 27-66 THREE GREAT POTTERS-PALLISSY, BÖTTGHER, Wedgwood. - Luca della Robbia, the Floren- - Ancient pottery - Etruscan ware tine sculptor: re-discovers the art of enamelling Bernard Pallissy: sketch of his life and labours - Inflamed by the sight of an Italian cup — His scarch after the secret of the enamel His experiments during years of unproductive toil — His per- sonal and family privations — Indomitable perseverance, burns his furniture to heat the furnace, and success at last Reduced to destitution Condemned to death, and release - His writings - Dies in the Bastille — John Frederick Böttgher, the Berlin 'gold cook' His trick in alchemy and consequent troubles - Flight into Saxony-His detention at Dresden- - Discovers how to - -- - - His unhappy end -The Sèvres porcelain manufactory - -Josiah Wedgwood, the English potter - Early state of English earthenware manufacture-Wedgwood's indefatigable Contents. xiii Great results attained by simple means Fortune favours the in- dustrious "Genius is patience". Newton and Kepler- Industry of eminent men - Power acquired by repeated effort Anecdote of Sir Robert Peel's cultivation of memory-Facility comes by practice - Importance of patience - Cheerfulness - Sydney Smith - Dr. Hook-Hope an important element in character - Carey the missionary-Anecdote of Dr. Young- Anecdote of Audubon the ornithologist — Anecdote of Mr. Carlyle and his MS. of the 'French Revolution' - Perseverance of Watt and Stephenson - Perseverance displayed in the dis- covery of the Nineveh marbles by Rawlinson and Layard - - No great result achieved by accident - Newton's discoveries Lee and Stone's opportunities for learning- Sir Walter Scott's Dr. Priestley Sir Humphry Davy Hall-Sir William Herschel - William Smith the geologist: his discoveries, his geological map-Hugh Miller: his observant |